GEMME (GEnérique Même MEdicament)

What GEMME (GEnérique Même MEdicament) does

GEMME (GEnérique Même MEdicament) is a French non-profit trade association (association loi 1901) founded in 2002 and headquartered in Paris that represents manufacturers of generic and biosimilar medicines operating in France. The association brings together 26 pharmaceutical laboratories that collectively operate more than 60 production sites, employ over 15,000 people, and generate roughly €4 billion in annual sales — equivalent to about 19% of France's reimbursable pharmaceutical market. Its core mission is collective advocacy and representation before French and European regulators (ANSM, CEPS, parliamentary bodies, the European Commission), with the stated objective of improving patient access to affordable medicines while preserving an economically viable generics and biosimilars industry in France.

The association is organized around three thematic poles: Generic Medicines, Biosimilar Medicines, and Added Value Medicines. Its day-to-day outputs include position papers, public polling campaigns (with OpinionWay), regulatory submissions, and press communications on issues such as the clause de sauvegarde tax, biosimilar substitution rights, INN (DCI) prescribing, and supply continuity. GEMME is governed by a rotating presidency drawn from member laboratories and a Bureau composed of Vice-Presidents representing the thematic poles and the hospital channel; its small permanent staff of six employees supports the governance and advocacy workstreams.

GEMME's business model is straightforward association economics: it is funded entirely through membership dues paid by the 26 member laboratories, with no commercial revenue, product sales, or grant income disclosed. It does not develop, manufacture, or commercialize pharmaceutical products itself; its "product" is collective representation, policy influence, and shared intelligence for its members. Strategic value to members is measured in regulatory and pricing outcomes rather than in direct financial returns, which makes the entity an unusual — and largely non-comparable — subject for conventional revenue-based investment analysis.

Name

GEMME (GEnérique Même MEdicament)

Legal name

GEMME (GEnérique Même MEdicament)

Website

https://medicamentsgeneriques.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GEMME is a Paris-based non-profit trade association founded in 2002 that represents 26 French generic and biosimilar pharmaceutical manufacturers, collectively generating roughly €4 billion in annual sales. It conducts regulatory advocacy and policy engagement on behalf of its members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: GEMME is funded through membership fees paid by its 26 member pharmaceutical laboratories (Accord Healthcare, Advanz Pharma, Arrow, Athena, Benta Lyon, Besins Healthcare, Biocon Biologics, Biogaran, Cheplapharm, Cristers, Delpharm, EG Labo, Everpharma, Evolupharm, Galien, Helm, Medac, Médipha Santé, Medis, Panpharma, Substipharm, Teva, Venipharm, Viatris, Zentiva, Zydus). GEMME does not generate revenue from product sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

GEMME is a French non-profit trade association representing 26 pharmaceutical laboratories that manufacture generic and biosimilar medicines. It advocates for favorable regulatory frameworks, drug pricing policies, and market access conditions before French government, regulators, and parliament, and conducts public education campaigns to promote acceptance of generic and biosimilar medicines.

Product overview

GEMME (GEnérique Même Médicament) is a French trade association representing 26 pharmaceutical laboratories specializing in generic and biosimilar medicines. The association operates primarily as an advocacy and information platform through its website (medicamentsgeneriques.info), which provides access to thematic fact sheets, press communications, and publications on generic and biosimilar medicines. GEMME does not manufacture or sell pharmaceutical products but serves as a unified voice for its member companies (including Biogaran, Teva, Arrow, Zentiva, Viatris, and others) to promote the quality, safety, and strategic importance of generic and biosimilar medicines in the French healthcare system. The association's offerings include public information resources, policy advocacy materials, and market analyses rather than a technology product or software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GEMME Association Website Portal Official association website that serves as the central information and communication platform for GEMME members, healthcare professionals, patients, and the public, hosting publications and updates on generic and biosimilar medicines.
• Thematic Fact Sheets (Fiches thématiques) Educational publications including infographics and detailed reports on the generic and biosimilar medicine market in France, covering topics such as market analysis, regulatory frameworks, and economic impact studies.
• GEMME Press Communications Service

Quantifiable outcome

• 2.5-3 billion euros in annual healthcare savings
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• OpinionWayminorOthers · 1 February 2022GEMME commissioned OpinionWay to conduct a survey 'Les Français et les médicaments génériques' in February 2022 to measure public perception and confidence in generic medicines. Survey found 1 in 2 patients give generics a trust score above 8/10.
• Medicines for EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGEMME collaborates with Medicines for Europe at the European level to relay French industry concerns to European authorities. Through this partnership, GEMME participated in discussions on SPC manufacturing waivers, cross-border supply chain issues during COVID-19, and European pharmaceutical policy. Medicines for Europe provides data on European generic medicine manufacturing (e.g., 70% of generics manufactured in Europe).
• ANSM (Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament)coreOthersGEMME maintains regular contact with ANSM (French drug agency) for regulatory matters, shortage management, and policy development. During COVID-19, GEMME worked with ANSM to adapt regulatory environments to facilitate production and importation. GEMME also participates in ANSM-led initiatives such as the Charter of Good Practices for drug supply.
• CNOP (Conseil National de l'Ordre des Pharmaciens)coreOthersGEMME collaborates with the National Pharmacists Order on initiatives such as the Charter of Good Practices for equitable patient access to medicines facing supply tensions. CNOP and ANSM jointly proposed this charter to which GEMME members adhere.
• LEEM (Les Entreprises du Médicament)minorOthersGEMME is listed among useful links on the LEEM (French pharmaceutical industry association) website, indicating a loose affiliation within the broader French pharmaceutical ecosystem. Both organizations advocate for the French pharmaceutical industry.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Pro Generika (Germany): The German trade association for the generics industry. Comparable as a national-level generics trade body with parallel market-data publication, policy advocacy, and public-awareness roles.
• AEGSPA (Asociación Española de Medicamentos Genéricos): The Spanish trade association for generic medicines. Comparable as a national generic-medicine industry association with parallel advocacy and market-development missions; useful as a regional peer for benchmarking uptake and policy frameworks.

Direct peers

• Afipa (Association Française de l'Industrie Pharmaceutique pour une Automédication Responsable): French trade association for OTC/self-medication pharmaceutical products. Comparable as a French pharma industry trade body focused on a specific sub-segment, with similar advocacy, regulatory engagement, and public-awareness missions as GEMME.
• Medicines for Europe: The European-level trade association representing generic and biosimilar medicine manufacturers. Directly comparable as a sister trade association for the generic/biosimilar sector — GEMME is an active member and partner, and the two coordinate on advocacy at EU and member-state levels.

Others

• Académie Nationale de Pharmacie: French learned society for pharmaceutical sciences. Comparable as a French pharmaceutical stakeholder body engaged in policy debate around generic quality, biosimilars, and substitution — an institutional counterpart to GEMME on scientific and regulatory matters.
• Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU): European pharmacists' association. Comparable as an adjacent stakeholder association interacting with GEMME on pharmacist-led substitution rights, biosimilar dispensing, and supply security — a relevant ecosystem counterpart in the substitution debate.

Broad incumbents

• LEEM (Les Entreprises du Médicament): The broader French pharmaceutical industry association representing innovative and branded drug companies. Comparable as a French pharma trade association with overlapping advocacy missions; GEMME is cross-linked on LEEM's website, and the two coordinate on industry-wide policy positions.
• EGA (European Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association, legacy brand of Medicines for Europe): Predecessor European-level association; conceptually comparable as the umbrella body for generic/biosimilar manufacturers at EU level, providing policy advocacy and market-data functions similar to those GEMME delivers nationally in France.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/generiques_asso
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gemme75

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about GEMME (GEnérique Même MEdicament)